Remembering Big Pun (The Inside Scoop)

Written by Trauma

So I'm at Subways enjoying a sandwich and it dawns on me that Big Puns "The Legacy" album has been out for over a week and I haven't even commented on it. (yeah I know, shame on me). So I quickly hit the menu button on my blackberry to email some label peeps to see what the first week numbers looked like. Of course I wasn't expecting anything huge in this climate, especially with the lack of promotion and marketing that goes on these days. But I was still disappointed to not seeing anything on the charts for the Platinum selling rapper. (I'm going to have to go back and investigate that) I remember when....wait hold on... (Insert flashback harps sound efx and the moving blurry screen)

Ok ...I remember when me and my production partner Jugrnaut was blessed with the opportunity to work with Pun some years ago. We never even knew we would produce for him. At that time I was one of the A&R's on his project. I was just engulfed with the helping get studio time, getting producers beats, making sure the tape reels (yeah I know..I said tape reels..that's what it was) and a few other things I can't even remember at this point. But yeah...Pun use to come through the office (Loud Records) with Fat Joe and the rest of the Terror Squad and dude was just the coolest most hilarious dude on the planet. Always played practical jokes on you if you were caught slipping, anything for a good laugh. Pun and I would go back and forth on the jokes. He would diss me and call me lips..(lmao...no homo)..and I would diss him back and call him Big Ton. But it was all in fun, cause that's the kind of dude he was.

I remember watching this dude record songs and I'll say to myself "as big as he is..how the hell he say all that in a rhyme." What's crazy is how he was such a perfectionist. He knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted the record to sound. He always went back and made sure things would sound a certain way. There were times when he would fall asleep..(or whatever that condition is) while talking to you or listening to a record. I would tell the engineer to turn it off, he sleeping. As soon as the engineer even reached to press stop Pun would open his eyes and say I'm listening or continue the convo like he never fell out....and then say.. add this efx to his vocals and fix this while I stood there scratching my head. Pun to me was the greatest. He had the perfect balance of thug, humor, wit, charm and presence which he brought on his records. I measure a rappers greatness not only by the traditional means (lyrics,flow,delivery,etc) but having the ability to make cross over records (Still Not A Player) and still be respected by your original core fans. Not too many rappers have accomplished that outside of B.I.G, 2Pac and Jay Z. Even Nas had received some back lash from his core fans for that "You Owe Me" record wit Ginuwine, but that's another topic.

Another memorable time is when we did the Pakinamac skit with Pun. He had the skits lined up. Told me to go in the booth and just go with the flow..so I played some 13 yr old kid hanging out on the block scared as heck when Pun rolls up on the scene and shoots everyone else and tells me to beat it. After I tell him my age...lol and add the infamous line "Thanks Pun!! " He laughed his ass off in the studio saying that's it ..perfect. (my coworkers ran that skit at the office like crazy...every time I walked into someones office, the skit would just be going on or coming off and someone will be cracking up..smh). But not for nothing...that skit alone was classic...maybe I should have started thinking about acting.

Anyway...Pun was def one of the Greats..and when he needed that certain last track for his album and I played him a beat ..he jumped up..ok..well not jumped up, but he sat up in the seat and said that's it while he mumbled some lyrics over it. He asked me who did the track, and when I said we did ..he ain't believe me at first. He though it was another joke. When I told him..we'll do it for no advance money too..he really jumped out of seat. (Lol..he really did this time). He ran (cmon you know what I mean) to Fat Joe and told him, and that alone not only sealed the deal, but in a weird way it showed him we was really riding with him. He recorded our track which became the title track for Big Puns debut album "Capital Punishment" our first track placed.

So now Album done, packaged shipped, and ready for release and you want to talk about buzz? jeesh!!The promo campaign was crazy...street team people were getting locked up like crazy for plastering the city with those Big Pun stickers. Cats was really trying to go in and out do each other. When cats started hitting up hwy signs thats when sh*t hit the fan lol. It hit the news and there was a city wide crack down on ad campaigns issued on us...they even put some new laws in effect. But whatever..promo was done and the album dropped... Oh yeah..and here is the kicker..the album dropped on my birthday, what a gift huh? Happy Birthday Mike D!!

So I'm on the train the next day heading to the office..and this kid sitting in front of me is bopping crazy hard to a record in his walkman (yeah i know...walkman..lol..what yall know about that?..oh remember the walkmans with the reverse button so you didn't have to take the tape out? classic!!! But what about the cheap joints that just had ffwd and you had to ffwd to rewind the other side..lmao....more classic....oh yeah..my bad..back to the story)..Umm yeah so this kid was boppin.. You know the bop...where ya face screwed up and reciting lyrics like you own it , doing all the hand movements. Homie was going in really feeling whatever he was listening to...then it hit me... He's listening to Pun....wait!...he's listening to the track we produced "Capital Punishment". Now I'm in aww. I hear him mumbling... saying damn..this record is crazy...and I'm watching him go thru the credits while bopping. All this time he is not realizing the person who is responsible for making him feel that way that moment is sitting right in front of him. It was a weird feeling I admit. I felt like i had a secret identity..like i was Clark Kent on the train and when I hit the studio I'm Superman. Anway I was happy dude was enjoying what we put together..when you can create something from the heart and it translates to the masses and brings feelings and emotions.....that's hip hop!!

So Pun's album goes platinum and everything is looking sweet. Pun is happy but still humble. He did at times remind you of his success in a joking manor. If you had an opinion about his music or you challenged him on a decision ..he would mumble in a joking manor..."well according to soundscan a million people agree with me"(lol)..or he would look at his iced out watch and say "by the looks of my iced out watch I think I'm right" (lol..my personal favorite). He would wait for your response and then laugh saying.."I'm just messing wit you..though I went hollywood on you huh?" Sometimes you just don't know when he is joking or not. Even when he is not...9 times of 10 it will turn into one

Ok time for next album "Yeaah Baby" ..he had put on more weight and was conscience of it. He would see me eating and ask is that healthy and if said yes, I knew what was next after that..say goodbye to the second half of that sandwich. We all was concerned bout his weight, but there was only so much you can tell him. He knew he needed to lose the weight, but I guess he felt like he had time ,let's make records. I tried to make light of the situation and I even thought of ways to market it. Me and my partner Jug started working on a new record for Pun that would feature Kelly Price. She was a big woman at the time and a very talented singer blowing up on the scene. I thought musicially and marketing wise it would be a huge record(no pun intended). I reached out to Kelly Price peoples and was able to get them in the studio to meet and listen to the track. They loved the track and it was a go! Pun even had some ideas for the video..said it will be called 2 Tons of Fun (SMH..yeah I know, this dudes crazy ) and it would be a comedy, fun video having fun with his weight. Unfortunaltly due to label politics, and personal agendas within the record company the record never happened. (Note: can you imagine the amount of hot records that almost happened but were blocked for some political reason? Its just plain disgusting..stuff like that kills creativity and puts a foot on the neck of Hip Hop..I hate that part of the biz)
....ok so moving along..

So one night Pun has a sesssion at The Hit Factory NYC studio and I go by to play some beats. He picks out the this track we produced which is now known as "Leatherface" the street single and B side to the the single "Its So hard" Ironically Leatherface is the same track I brought to Raekwon some weeks before which he turned down. (He had some ummm...how can I say..choice words after he heard record on a mixtape, but that's another story.. ...maybe when I do the story about the Immobilarity album anyway)..Pun already knew how the record would sound..he said he wanted to add a quote from the movie Scarface. The infamous chain saw scene..yeah you know the scene. He already had it mapped out in his head. So while he is going over the lyrics in his head he introduces me to the newest member of the crew and told the artist to spit something to me. Maaaan I tell you... spitting came hard for like 32 bars. I was impressed..looking at Pun like ..umm can we sign her already? (cant get deals like that anymore) So I'm saying to myself damn this is dope. This unsigned talent ended the verse saying her name..........Remy Martin

Yeah Pun was something else yall. Pure talent...can't take that from him at all. The day I found out he passed I was in L.A with my production partner Jugrnaut doing a rock remix on Leatherface with rock group The Def Tones. I called the office just on a check in and I was greeted with the horrible news. We later jumped on a private jet with Steve Rifkind (Loud Records CEO)& Sean C (A&R) and flew to New Jersey to Fat Joe's house. It seemed like Joe was in disbelief like it ain't hit him yet. For the entire time me and Jug was quite. We aint even know what to say. Joe seemed more concerned with us, asking how are we doing, while the radio played Pun records. Then it happens...... Leatherface comes on...and I'm just starring at the radio numb. Joe looks at us and says is this the first time yall hearing yall record on the radio? Jug says yeah. He looked down and looked back at us and said its a hot record..sorry yall got to hear it like this......
(Give me a second yall...got a lil choked up just now flashing back)

ok..ummm..I think I'm going to end the article here and with this.
Big Pun is a legend, and broke not only barriers in hip hop but has broken barriers for the Latin community. From being the first Latino rapper to go platinum to being nominated for a grammy, Big Pun's talent was truly undeniable. We often wonder where would hip hop be if some of these legends were still around. There is really no telling. I say go check out Big Pun's Capital Punishment and Yeeaah Baby album if you don't have those in your collection...and I truly hope you already do or your pretty late on some undeniable classics. Also pick up The Legacy album just off general principal alone.
(insert, screen blurries again with a coming out of memory lane harps sound efx)

Damn I just realized I've been sitting here at subways for over an hour zoned out. I put in some work on this blackberry..fingers cramping an all. Oh one more thing on a personal note ..Pun has given me and my partner the opportunity to be part of greatness..so from us to him, like the skit says..."Thanks Pun"

One!

Mike"Trauma"D of Arkatech Beatz (formerly known as The Infinite Arkatechz)